No new Yorkshire contract for Lehmann

Australian batsman Darren Lehmann is free to play for another county this summer after Yorkshire decided they could not risk offering him a contract when he could be picked for the Ashes.

The left-hander - who has an average of 66.97 in 73 outings for Yorkshire - is a free agent after he was left out of the Australia squad and only has a verbal agreement to return to Headingley in 2006.

That means the 35-year-old could sign a deal to play for any of Yorkshire's rivals in the County Championship second division this summer.

Yorkshire director of operations Geoff Cope told the Yorkshire Post: "We could not have risked looking for another player at this stage of the game had Darren been picked for the Ashes, hence the decision was taken not to sign him for this year.

"We are hoping he will play for us next year because he has been one of the best overseas players in the country over a long period of time.

"It is true that if another county approached him this summer he could take up that option if he wished. Darren is a free agent and any decision would be up to him."